Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Basic Car Maintenance Tips

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Take care of your car and it will take care of you.  Following basic car maintenance tips can help you stay on the road and out of the repair shop.

Engine oil – Checking and changing the oil is critical in keeping today’s engines running properly and efficiently.  Follow your manufacturers guidelines for changing oil intervals, usually every 3,000 miles or three to six months.

Transmission fluid – Checking the transmission fluid is another vital item on the car maintenance list.  Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for change intervals, usually about every 30,000 miles.

Battery – Most car batteries today are maintenance-free, sealed, and can last more than three years.  The first sign your battery should be replaced is often when you have trouble starting the engine.

Tires – A car tire inflated to 35 pounds per square inch (psi) can lose one psi every month, or for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change, so your car maintenance list should include checking tire pressure.  Also check your spare.  Rotate the tires every 6,000 miles to prevent uneven wear.  Replace them when they become worn, and have the alignment checked if the car pulls to either side when driving or if you notice uneven tire wear.

Engine coolant – Replace most engine coolant or antifreeze every 30,000 miles – or every two to three years.  Newer formulas, however, may last up to 50,000 miles.

Brakes and brake fluid – Have the brake fluid levels checked to ensure they are within tolerance.  How often you need to replace brake pads or other components depends on how you drive and typical driving conditions.  Warning signs of a brake problem include noise, vibration or “grabbing” when you apply the brakes.

Air filter – Basic car maintenance recommends changing your air filter each year or every 12,000-15,000 miles.  A clean air filter can help your engine “breathe” better and improve gas mileage and reduce harmful emissions.

Windshield wipers and wiper fluid – Windshield wiper care is one of the most neglected basic car maintenance tips.  Replace the blades every six to twelve months or whenever the rubber becomes worn.  Check the wiper fluid every couple weeks and keep it full.

What’s Wrong With This Car?

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You’ve been looking forward to this trip for months.  The kids are excited.  You’ve even checked the pollen forecast, and you don’t anticipate any problems.  The rental car looks perfect.  You’ve reserved a four-wheel drive for this rugged adventure in the great outdoors.  You get inside, take a deep breath, and start the car.  Then it happens.

Your chest tightens and your head pounds.  Something in this car is triggering your allergies.  Between mold in the air-conditioning system and the formaldehyde in the leather seats, your perfect rental car seems custom designed to spike your symptoms.

Common allergens and irritants found inside the average car can make driving a challenge for people with allergies.  Dust mites and mold can grow in cars, and animal allergen – tiny particles of an animal’s shed skin, urine, and saliva – may linger for years.

Awareness is key to travel by car:  awareness of your own sensitivities, of the hazards you may encounter, and of the extra planning needed for a safe and pleasant trip.

Whether you’re driving your own car or a rental, take these steps to prepare:

  • Turn on the car’s air conditioner or heater and roll down the windows for at least ten minutes before getting in.  This will help remove dust mites and molds.
  • Make sure the car’s exhaust and fuel systems are in top shape, and that there are no fluid leakages, such as transmission, antifreeze, or power brake fluids.
  • Avoid exhaust fumes by driving in the early morning or late-night hours when there is less traffic.  Also drive on less-traveled routes.
  • Make sure the car has received detailed cleaning.
  • To reduce your exposure to airborne allergy triggers, have your car’s cabin air filter changed if it has one, (most newer models have them).  If not, consider running an air filter designed specifically for automobiles, which plugs into a car cigarette lighter socket, or wear a filter mask while driving.

More and more people suffer from allergies today than they ever have before, if you’d like more information on how to protect yourself, you can find this article and more on  Allergy9.com

 

Timing Chain

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As your engine runs, the intake valves need to open up to allow air into the engine.  They remain closed while the air and fuel is compressed and ignited, powering the piston.  Then the exhaust valves open to release the exhaust.  This all has to be timed very precisely.  It is the job of the timing belt or chain to make sure all of this is synced up properly.

Timing belts are made of a very tough compound that can last for a long time.  Timing chains are made of metal and last for a very long time as well.  If your vehicle has a timing belt, your vehicle’s owner’s manual has a schedule for replacing the belt.  If your vehicle has a timing chain, there may not be a specified schedule for replacing it, but that doesn’t mean that the timing chain system is indestructible and never needs attention.

For example, the chain runs on sprockets on the crankshaft and the camshafts.  A broken tooth on a sprocket can cause the chain to slip.  When timing is off, even a little, your engine won’t run at all and could even be severely damaged.  There is also a tensioner that keeps appropriate pressure on the timing chain.  This keeps the chain tight while allowing it to absorb pulsations from the engine.  The tensioner can wear out.  There are also guide rails that keep the chain on the proper path that can become worn.

The bottom line is that at some time, one or more of the timing chain system components will become worn to the point that they are no longer performing within specifications.  Your service adviser can help you with recommendations for when timing chain components should be replaced on your vehicle and for signs of timing chain system wear.

Since timing chains and dozens of other parts, are lubricated by engine oil, smart drivers stay on top of regular oil changes to prolong their life.  Always use a high quality oil filter and oil of the recommended type and grade.

Power Steering Problems?

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The power steering system in your vehicle is made up of several components that can cause problems after years of use.  Some of these problems might be easy to catch as soon as they begin, but others might be less obvious, forcing you to have major parts replaced.

Here are some steps you can take so you can catch those minor problems before they become more serious and costly.

  • Check the power steering fluid.  If your vehicle is hard to steer, it can be a sign of a low steering fluid level.  Most vehicles on the road have hydraulic power steering systems.  This means that pressurized fluid is used to help you do the work of steering.  A pump pressurizes the power steering fluid to provide the boost you need.  Other possibilities include worn suspension system parts and loose steering pump belt.
  • If you hear a whine or loud noise when you’re turning the steering wheel while the engine is running or while you’re driving, the belt might be slipping.  In some vehicles the pump is driven by the serpentine belt, while in others there is an electric pump.

The most common problem for vehicles is that over time, the steering fluid becomes contaminated and can actually cause leaks in the hoses and connections.  It becomes harder to steer and could even cause total failure of the power steering system.

Periodically, your service adviser may recommend you change transmission fluid, which involves removing the old, dirty fluid and replacing it with fresh fluid.  This helps the power steering components last longer, maintains your vehicle’s steering performance and keeps you safely on the road.  Your technician will also have your system checked for leaks and the belt inspected for other pending needs, to help you avoid those pesky power steering problems.

Simple Answers: Water Pump

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The cooling system in an engine has five components:  the radiator, the radiator cap, the hoses, the thermostat and the water pump.  The water pump is literally the heart of the system.  Just as your own heart keeps your blood circulating through your body, the water pump keeps coolant circulating through your engine.

The water pump is driven by a belt, chain or gear and only operates while the engine is running.  It has a limited life span and sooner or later will have to be replaced.  You can check your owner’s manual to find out how long your water pump should last.  Some can fail at only 40,000 miles, but almost all of them fail by 100,000 miles.

Water pumps can fail in two ways; they can spring a leak or their bearings fail.  Leaks can come from a cracked pump but usually develop at the gasket where the pump attaches to the engine.

If you hear a low-pitched grinding sound coming from the water pump, it’s time for a new one.  If you see coolant leaking in the area near the pump, it needs to be replaced.  Also, coolant on the driveway could indicate water pump failure.  Many water pumps aren’t visible because they’re under a plastic cover, so you may have to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop to know for sure if the water pump has failed.

If your water pump is run by the timing belt, then it should be replaced when you replace the belt.  Most timing belts need to be replaced at around 60,000 to 90,000 miles.  The labor for replacing a timing belt is about the same for replacing a water pump, so it’s cost-effective to take care of them both at the same time.

Also, if your water pump develops a leak (if it’s powered by a timing belt), you have to replace the timing belt as well since contamination by coolant fluid damages the belt.  It just makes sense for drivers to replace both of these parts whenever either one needs it.

Replacing a water pump is a car care issue that almost all of us face eventually.  They don’t last forever.  On the other hand, we can extend the life of most of the components of our vehicle through preventative maintenance.  Just as exercise and diet keep our heart healthy, regular inspections and fluid changes will keep our vehicles healthy.

Fuel Saving Tip: Check Engine Light

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How long have you been enjoying the romantic glow of your Check Engine Light?  Hey, it isn’t there to create ambiance in your vehicle;  it’s a warning  that says something is wrong.

Fuel saving tip:  Many conditions that cause the check engine light to come on can affect your fuel economy, some very dramatically.  In newer vehicles it might be a problem with your gas cap not being screwed on tight enough (or a worn gas cap), causing the vehicle to fail the self-diagnostic evaporative emission test.  Always make sure you tighten your gas cap until it clicks.  A loose gas cap can cause a false sensor reading that will make the check engine light come on.  So if you verify that the gas cap is tight and that’s the problem, the light will turn off and everything will be fine within one or two days.

We advise drivers to resist the temptation to have someone “clear” the codes to turn off your vehicle check engine light.  This erases important diagnostic information that your service technician needs to diagnose the underlying problem for the check engine light or any other pending problems that may be stored in the computer.

So if your date’s eyes are smoldering in the reflected glow of the Check Engine Light, take this fuel saving tip and bring it in and have us check it out.

Springtime Vehicle Maintenance

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Springtime is the perfect time to go through a vehicle maintenance checklist and get your car ready for the months ahead.  We’ve put this one together so you know what should be checked out.

  • Regular oil changes are very important for vehicle maintenance.  Clean oil in the engine keeps your vehicle running smoothly, so if it’s been a while, now is the time to change it.
  • Your vehicle’s cooling system needs maintenance.  Not only does it keep the engine from overheating but it also keeps it from freezing.  And since we experience springtime weather that can have both extremes, it’s important to have the system flushed and replaced with fresh coolant.
  • The terminals and cables on your battery should be inspected for wear or damage.  The battery fluid should also be checked along with the batteries ability to hold a charge.  If you’ve had the same battery for 4 years or more, you might want to have it replaced.
  • The tires on your vehicle should be checked to make sure they are in good condition and will provide the proper traction you need for springtime (rain, snow) driving.  Checking for proper tire pressure is another thing that will need attention.
  • Windshield wipers should be inspected and replaced if they are worn out and also refill the washer fluid reservoir.  With spring storms and dirt on the roads, sometimes we use our wipers more often than we thought we would.
  • If your car was built in the last decade, chances are good it has a cabin air filter.  This filter needs to be checked because it screens out dust and debris out of the air that’s entering your vehicle’s passenger compartment.  To improve the quality of the air you breathe while you drive, your cabin air filter should be changed.
  • Finally, the brakes on your vehicle should be checked.  If you haven’t had them checked in the last six months, now is the perfect time, because there’s no perfect time for the brakes to fail.

Vehicle maintenance can and should be done all the time, but if you haven’t started yet, springtime can be the perfect time for a new beginning.

Spark Plugs

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Good news!  The days when drivers had to change their spark plugs every couple of years has ended.  Back in the day, spark plugs really did wear out that often.  Now, a couple of things are different…

First, spark plugs have a better design and are made of better materials that last longer for drivers.  The second reason spark plugs used to have to be changed more often is because carbon deposits would build up in them when fuel wasn’t burned completely and foul them up.  But with modern engine management controls that doesn’t happen as often.

Engine control computers precisely time when fuel is injected into the engine and when the spark plugs fire.  Unless something is wrong, spark plugs just don’t misfire as often now.

Electricity from the battery goes into a coil that allows power to build up to anywhere from 12,000 to 45,000 volts, depending on the vehicle.  The engine management computer tells the coil when to release the power to the spark plug.  The electricity travels through a wire from the coil to the spark plug.  At the tip of the plug, a spark jumps between two electrodes and ignites the gas in the combustion chamber.

Some engines have more than one coil.  Coils wear out and need to be replaced occasionally.  Also, spark plug wires can wear out and need to be replaced.  Modern engines in vehicles are delivering more power and better fuel economy all the time.  That’s largely credited to fast engine control computers, advanced sensors, electronic ignition and improvements to the lowly spark plug.  It will be interesting to see where future developments take us.

One last thought…it’s important to have the right kind of spark plug for your vehicle.  Because engines are designed to run with different internal temperatures, spark plugs have different designs that work properly within those temperatures.  Your service adviser at Express Car Care will be able to get the right plugs for your vehicle and be able to advise you as to when you should replace your spark plugs as well.

Tire Service in Denver

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For most people buying tires can be a big deal, so play it safe and consult with your friendly and knowledgeable tire professional about the proper size, type and grade for your driving needs.  He can help you balance load requirements, performance, durability and cost.

It’s always best to replace both tires on the same axle when purchasing new tires, in order to keep the rolling diameter as close as possible.  Drivers with four-wheel drive vehicles should replace all four tires at the same time because they can run into problems if the tires have different rolling diameters due to wear or different types of tires.  Four-wheel drive vehicles should have all tires very close to the same rolling diameter to avoid binding and wheel hop between the front and rear axles.

Tire manufacturers also recommend that if you are buying just two new tires that they be installed on the rear for safer slippery road traction – regardless of which wheels drive the vehicle.  Express Car Care has you covered for all of your tire service in Denver needs including tire repair, tire mounting, and wheel balancing.

Simple Answers About Alignment

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Question:  How do I know when I need a wheel alignment?

Express Car Care Answer:  When Denver drivers wheels are properly aligned, they point in the same direction.  When they are out of alignment, most drivers notice a couple of things.  First, the vehicle pulls to one side when driving.  It can be slight or pretty severe.  If your wheels have been out of alignment for a while, you’ll also start to see uneven tire wear – the shoulder on either the outside or inside of the tire is worn down more than the other.

There are many steering and suspension components that are joined together.  Everyday driving can cause a drivers wheels to go out of alignment over time just from the joints loosening up.  That’s why a simple alignment check is recommended every couple of years.  Depending on where you live or the conditions you drive in ( off-road driving, harsh winter conditions, poor pavement, etc.) an alignment inspection every year may be necessary.

Suspension and steering components wear over time as well, which can lead to alignment issues for drivers.  Of course, hitting a curb or pothole can knock a wheel out of alignment or damage a steering or suspension part.

Your friendly and knowledgeable service adviser will check your tires for uneven wear.  The type of wear provides clues to what might be wrong.  Parts located under the car are inspected for wear or damage.  An alignment machine will provide a reading of how each wheel is aligned.  The reading is compared with the alignment settings and then makes the necessary adjustments and repairs to bring your wheel back into alignment.

Due to the size of our shop, we don’t have the equipment to provide alignment service, but we can recommend quality shops that do provide this necessary service.

Putting off a wheel alignment can be dangerous because of tire wear, a bad alignment can chew through a tire pretty quickly.  If you see uneven tire wear, or if your steering wheel is off center, or your vehicle pulls to one side, ask your service adviser about getting an alignment check.

Brakes Service

Oil Change

Suspension

Transmision Service

Engine Service

Auto Tips & Tricks